So that's that, then. With just the Champions League and Championship play-off finals to look forward to and no significant summer soccer jamboree on the horizon apart from the European Under-21 Championship, Under-20 World Cup, Confederations Cup, Women's Euro 2013 and the Copa Libertadores, the football landscape is looking a fairly barren, desolate and windswept place this morning.

With so little action to look forward to, bereft football fans can at least console themselves with the knowledge that with little else to report, rumour mills everywhere are set to go into overdrive, the gears and crankshafts whirring and clanking loudly as their sails spin faster than the propellers on a Lancaster bomber. Needless to say, the Rumour Mill is no exception.

Assorted tabloids have suggested that a deal to bring Radamel Falcao to Manchester City is as good as done, reporting that the Premier League runners-up have agreed an eye-watering £54m British record transfer fee for the prolific Atlético Madrid goal-getter. City themselves are remaining tight-lipped on the matter, possibly because so many unnamed club "insiders" are too busy taking pot-shots at the retreating figure of recently departed manager Roberto Mancini to devote their energies to more important matters. However, speculation linking Carlos Tevez with a move lend credence to that linking Mr Falcao with a move in.

Juventus have made no secret of their interest in signing the scurrying Argentinian striker, while the player himself has told a French TV station that he would be open to a move to Paris St-Germain, despite having failed to agree terms with the French champions once before. "There was interest from PSG for me, and we talked with Leonardo, but we could not reach an agreement," he told one French TV station in one of those interviews he may claim was misinterpreted and taken out of context. "But it remains an interesting option as the French championship is moving very fast. If Leonardo called me, it's not a problem for me to come, really no problem to come to Paris and France."

The future of Nike UK athlete Wayne Rooney remains up in the air, although the Sunday Mirror reported that Chelsea are prepared to splash out up to £30m for the out-of-sorts striker. Needless to say, Paris St-Germain are also interested in bringing the 27-year-old to the Parc des Princes and should he decide his future lies away from Old Trafford the prospect of a vulgar bidding war is likely to have Manchester United bean-counters slavering.

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll might also find himself playing in Ligue 1 next season, if the Sunday Telegraph is to be believed. The giant Geordie's loan spell at West Ham has ended but while the Hammers wish to make his stay at Upton Park a more permanent one, they are reluctant to stump up the £16m demanded by Liverpool and may be outbid by wad-waving Ligue 2 champions Monaco, who are backed by the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev. The newspaper did, however, stress that the chances of Carroll moving to Monaco were "remote", while Sam Allardyce has voiced his hope of wrapping up a move to West Ham "as quickly as possible".

Tottenham Hotspur manager André Villas-Boas will attempt to shrug off the disappointment of his side's failure to finish in the top four by signing up Porto midfielder João Moutinho for next season's campaign. But hey! Guess what! Yep, wad-waving Ligue 2 champions Monaco may hijack the move. Having spent last season on loan at Sunderland, where he was one of very few players to emerge from the campaign with anything resembling credit, Tottenham full-back Danny Rose is believed to be making loud pinging noises on Liverpool's radar.

Meanwhile in Sunderland, Paolo Di Canio is making loud, shouty noises, fining assorted members of the indisciplined rabble he inherited for their lack of professionalism and promising a clear-out of the many ne'er-do-wells he claims have infested the home dressing room at the Stadium of Light. One presumes casino-going full-back Phil Bardsley will be one of the first out the door.

Having further endeared himself to his West Bromwich Albion team-mates by criticising them in the wake of their 4-0 hiding at the hands of Norwich City, Peter Odemwingie's days at West Brom appear to be even more numbered than usual. After a season to forget, the Nigerian striker is expected to bring his unique brand of dressing room harmony to the KC Stadium, with Hull City sending £3m the other way.

With just two rounds of games left in the Spanish top fligh, El Mundo claims that Real Madrid may sack José Mourinho ahead of the tedious media circus that will surround his apparently inevitable second coronation at Stamford Bridge. With Carlo Ancelotti having made public his desire to leave Paris St-Germain and mull over an offer from Real Madrid, the Rumour Mill waits with interest to see if wad-waving Ligue 2 champions Monaco will attempt to hijack either deal. In slightly less glamorous managerial merry-go-round news, Lord Voldemort lookalike and ex-Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers boss Michael Appleton will be unveiled as manager of newly promoted Championship side Doncaster Rovers today.

And finally, annoying but effective Real Madrid and Portugal centre-half Pepe will become one of Manuel Pellegrini's main transfer targets when the Chilean takes over at Manchester City. Here's hoping wad-waving Ligue 2 champions Monaco attempt to hijack the deal.